Back when I originally released this poster the print run was very sort, the cost to print at A2 was rather high and sales low. Back then I decided to discontinue the print and move on to other things, not really giving it a second thought. Recently someone asked me about the print and if it was available for download, today it is.

Origins

Circa 2007, originally this poster was designed for personal marketing, later turned into a Giclee print for sale. The poster makes use of vector as well as photographic elements and takes some of it’s inspiration from Monty Python artwork.  The model is my then friend, now wife, Aaryn Nutter.

Format

The reformatted poster is available at A3 size (that’s 297×420mm), 150dpi in CMYK color. While it’s recommended that you print the poster at A3 size, scaling larger or smaller should work fine.

Download The Garden poster free now (3.9MB)

There are two new additions with this update. The first is a class to handle negative text indentation for image replacement items, attach this class to any item you want to hide from user view but still have in the page for search engines to read. The second addition is three classes to help you control your text transformations, it’s now easy to handle text that comes in at the wrong case.

I fixed a minor spelling issue with all the charcoal named elements. I’ve left the old spelling in place, if you’ve used this style on other sites you can feel free to update your Core CSS without fear of those older classes breaking. I also adjusted the colors of the standard input elements slightly, they should now be more readable.

As always; using this code requires you include Eric Meyer’s Reset CSS before Core CSS. This can be included either at the beginning of Core CSS or in a separate file which is called first.

Change log 1.2 > 1.2.1
1. + Added new Class txtImg. Used on image replacement items to remove the text from user display.
2. + Added three new Classes to handle Text Transforms: capitalize, uppercase, lowercase.
3. -/+ Fixed a minor spelling error: charcol becomes charcoal. Old spelling left for backwards compatibility.
4. -/+ Amended colors on standard input items to be more user friendly.

There are three ways for you to download the code.
1. Copy and paste the code listed below.

2. Download a file containing the full Core CSS.

3. Download a file containing a minified version of Core CSS.

/* core.css Paul West [http://www.yaypaul.com] */
/* Version: 1.2.1 - 2010-01-18 */

body{background:#fff;}

/* Block level */
div{overflow:hidden;}
.visible{overflow:visible;}
p.closed{margin:0;}
p.open{margin:35px 0 0 0;}
p.mini{margin:10px 0 0 0;}
.float{float:left !important;}
.floatRight{float:right !important;}
.relative{position:relative !important;}
.absolute{position:absolute !important;}
.fixed{position:fixed !important;}
.hidden{display:none}
.block{display:block}
.top{position:fixed; top:0; z-index:10;}
.txtImg{text-indent:-2000px;}

/* Page frameworks */
.frameworkCenter{margin:0 auto;}
.frameworkLeft{left:0; top:0; position:absolute;}
.frameworkRight{right:0; top:0; position:absolute;}

/* Page layout */
.width100{width:100% !important;}
.width75{width:75% !important;}
.width66{width:66% !important;}
.width50{width:50% !important;}
.width25{width:25% !important;}
.width33{width:33% !important;}
.width20{width:20% !important;}

/* Clearing */
.clear{clear:both;}
.clearLeft{clear:left;}
.clearRight{clear:right;}

/* Content control */
.left{text-align:left !important;}
.right{text-align:right !important;}
.center{text-align:center !important;}
.justify{text-align:justify !important;}
.capitalize{text-transform:capitalize;}
.uppercase{text-transform:uppercase;}
.lowercase{text-transform:lowercase;}
.small{font-size:smaller;}
pre{background-color:#fff; border:#333 dashed 1px; padding:10px;}
blockquote{padding:20px; font-style:italic;}

/* Links */
a{text-decoration:underline;}
a:hover{text-decoration:none;}
a:visited{text-decoration:underline;}

/* Colours */
.white{color:#fff !important;}
.black{color:#000 !important;}
.chalk{color:#eee;}
.charcol, .charcoal{color:#333;}
.darkestGrey{color:#484848;}
.darkGrey{color:#666;}
.midGrey{color:#888;}
.lightGrey{color:#ccc;}
.lightestGrey{color:#e5e5e5;}

/* Background colours */
.whiteBg{background-color:#fff !important;}
.blackBg{background-color:#000 !important;}
.chalkBg{background-color:#eee;}
.charcolBg, .charcoalBg{background-color:#333;}
.darkestGreyBg{background-color:#484848;}
.darkGreyBg{background-color:#666;}
.midGreyBg{background-color:#999;}
.lightGreyBg{background-color:#ccc;}
.lightestGreyBg{background-color:#e5e5e5;}
.superLightGreyBg{background-color:#f5f5f5;}

/* Normalise headings */
h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6{font-weight:normal;}

/* Table formating */
table td{padding:2px;}
td.first{padding:2px 2px 2px 4px;}

/* Input formating */
input, select, textarea{font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-right:10px; padding:4px; background-color:#e5e5e5; border:0;}
input:focus, select:focus, textarea:focus{background-color:#f5f5f5;}
input[type="radio"]{border:0 solid !important;}
input[type="checkbox"]{border:0 solid !important;}
input[type="submit"]{background-color:#e5e5e5;}
input[type="submit"]:hover{background-color:#75d0ff;}

Lets start with the obvious change first;

New website

The most notable change is to the website, it’s had the full make-over treatment. The old first iteration of the Deadly Furry Cute website was a simple one page site, great for testing the concept and getting something up, not so great for organizing content. So the first step was to get some content management in place. As usual Wordpress was more than enough for the content task, even knowing I needed at least two different page formats -most of the details for the toys are simply saved in custom fields.

Download counting is also much more streamlined, now using a Wordpress plugin rather than my own custom script. While the custom script worked fine, I’d never built a frontend to actually display the details -I was checking via myphpadmin.
This change does mean the perma-links for the old toys no longer work, but that’s ok, Series 1 has changed to Series 1 Edition 2. Those first editions are no longer an offering.

New toys

The next most noticeable change is to the number of toys. Series 2: Squirrels and Series 3: Apes are now released taking the total number of downloadable animal individuals to nine.

I’ve talked before about changing templates, having multiple sizes, trying different styles, and the design I went with for the new series -I wont cover those again. One thing you might have missed is that the series to start it all, Series 1, also has a face lift. The changes to the first series are subtle, I didn’t want to mess with a good thing, but they’re enough to make the first edition obsolete.

Even more new toys

Inspired by a request from an American Educator, Deadly Furry Cute now comes complete with alternate ‘Color Your Own’ versions. These versions are simply as they sound, toys which for the most part have all the features of the original -but none of the color, leaving you to color them as you see fit. You’re free to use any coloring medium, I dare say pencil, pen or paint would be easiest though.

The Game

The revamped Deadly Furry Cute toys all have six stats printed on their base (also available on the site), one stat lists the toys health, the others it’s attributes. Using these attributes in conjunction with the basic rules on the site -or any rules you decide to make up for that matter,  can make for a fun little game.
I’m hoping the two rule sets I’ve devised will add some more depth to the toys outside building and displaying them.

Extra free stuff

OK so the toys are free yes, but you still need to build them, how about some swag which doesn’t require assembly?
On the site you’ll now find a number of extras for your Mac/PC, iPhone, Droid or online applications. At the moment that means you’ve got access to some Deadly Furry Cute desktops, device wallpaper and avatar icons, more to follow.

Moving forward

I do have a hard written plan for Deadly Furry Cute, time-line is a little whibley-wobbly but the plan is there. I’m not going to go over it here -where would the surprises be! I will say: many more series are in the works and each one will eventually have a Color Your Own version.

Head over to deadlyfurrycute.com now to download the toys, goodies or leave some feedback.

This time I’ve decided to post my progress on the blog to give you the option of tagging along for the visual ride. Perhaps you’re not a gamer, not into Sci-Fi or simply want to comment on my choices or special moments and compare them to yours.

To follow the full visual progress head over to my xFire page for Mass Effect 2, bookmark it and check back for progress updates.

If however you’d rather just jump into this page and see the highlights once in a while bookmark this page and check back.

I’ll also be adding some info to my Gamer DNA page, head over there and follow me if it’s your preferred platform.

*Spoiler Alert*

From here on in it gets a little spoiler filled as the images you see may not have happened in your game yet – or at all depending on your choices. I may also reference outside information I’ve found out about certain choices or scenarios you’ll face/I have faced. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Collector’s Edition Armor

Really nice shot of the Collector’s glowing eyes.

Poor old Normandy

Back to the Citadel

Nice to see some other areas of the Citadel, and their associated views.

The good stuff

Woooah that Whiskey made me drunk!

Tattooed Lady

First close up look at Jacks tattoos. That outfit looks a bit nippy for space though.

No Cable?

These colonists obviously lovers of Satellite TV.

Old friends

Hi Garus! It’s good to see the old faces from ME1. I love that Bioware has all these relationships planned out across all three games.  You can also see my shiny gold and red camo armor -this paragon deserves some bling!

The bad guys

I know your face now Mr bad guy! You kinda look like the dude from Independence Day though, shame about the type casting…

Yay Tali

Tali is by far my favorite character in Mass Effect, could well be all the mystery. Definitely have to play through twice now that she’s a romance option.

Amazing artwork

I loved the artwork in ME1, but they’ve really maxed out the detail in ME2. The following shot is just a random room you have to pass through to get from a to b in a mission. I was stopped in my tracks and had to take a screenshot, the small size doesn’t do it justice -head over to the xFire page and check out the natural view.

Similar rovers

I’m pulling this one out as it kind of fits in to the “looks-a-bit-like” category.  Seen Aliens the Special Edition? Then you might see a similarity here.

Ahh Illium

The Mass Effect series does a good job at feeling Epic, Illium doesn’t disappoint.

Old flames

Liara, my romance from the ME1 character I brought in, is very happy to see me. She is also another reason why the game is getting at least two plays; My main Shepard from ME1 would like to continue the relationship with Liara through to ME3 without any cheating consequences.
You can also see a shot of my shiny new -kind of scary looking, helmet in this image.

Charlies Angels

Drive core

Get lost in it’s swirls…

Tali’s trial

Where I verbally out maneuver the Admirals.

Hands in the air

Welcome

Wait a minute, that’s not soup!

Samara glows

Loving the new particle effect, they look great even on my older MacBookPro.

Model collection complete

I kept killing the fish…

Sofa fight

My gas giant

Reaper insides

You just know there’s some nasty stuff in here.

Crazy escape

I didn’t sign up for this shhhh….t

On the offensive

The collector base must be destroyed!

They what?

Not cool Mr Reapers not cool!

BOOM!

Must out run blast…

Oh crap

Now that’s just depressing. Bring it on though, I saved the Rachni in ME1, the Queen will come through!

You know what this means

And that’s it for the short image highlights of Reishika Shepard’s play through of Mess Effect 2. If you’d like to see the whole screenshot collection please head over to my ME2 xFire screenshots page.

Some time ago I created a number of maps which were built using just one shape. While these maps looked great in region view they weren’t exactly the best to play – One was very hard and expensive to build on, while the other was so open and easy it got a little boring in the end.

I had an interesting time making Island Nation a more natural map while balancing out some open areas for large cities. I decided I’d like to make another natural looking map but again limit myself to only using one shape to build all areas of the region. I also imposed a few more guidelines upon my design;

- Only circles can be used to make the map.
- – Further: only four sizes of circle at four different shades may be used (smaller > lighter [125px, 60px, 30px, 10px]).

- The map must contain;
- – Two rivers joining.
- – One island.
- – Geological activity (so I can have mountains on low land).

The region is made up of nine large size cities so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting some nice large populations growing. I hope there is just enough landscape variation that it makes things interesting and you get some good ideas for building different types of communities.

I should have some time over the holidays to update you with how my region is going after I’ve started a city in each area. I have still got that Deadly Furry Cute relaunch to finish too…

Download the New Eden Bay Area region now!

New Eden Bay Area terrain map

New Eden Bay Area region preview

Personally this just helps the decision Aaryn and I made about staying with tap water, estrogen and all, solidify itself as the right choice. Of course living in California means we do keep bottled water in the house and car as part of our earthquake readiness kits, but we usually keep it until a few months before its use by date drink it and then buy more (don’t forget to get extra for the kitties!). Day to day we just use filtered tap.

I’m re-posting the infographic here with permission, but please feel free to head over to the source instead;

Dangerous Juggling Stunts (Part 2 Extreme Fire)
Things on fire are great, things being juggled while on fire awesome! Though I’d liked to have seen more unicycle action ^_^

Head over to the YouTube page to comment and rate!

Dangerous Juggling Stunts (Part 3 The Chainsaw)
Yes you read that correctly, a freaking chainsaw. I’ve no idea were you’d go from there though, maybe riding a tiger juggling flaming chainsaws?

Head over to the YouTube page to comment and rate!

Awesome stuff all round again from Nick. Please head over to www.nickpikejuggler.com if you’d like to get info and watch more juggling and show videos, you’ll also be able to checkout where his next gig is in your area!

I’m going to embed the video below for ease of viewing, but if you like what you see head over to www.nickpikejuggler.com to watch more videos, you’ll also be able to checkout where his next gig is in your area!

I don’t want to give anything away but: knives and broken glass aren’t the only crazy things planned!

Head over to the YouTube page to comment and rate!

Team Meerkat, the 4 of us, start the Extra Life event at 8am PST (that’s 4pm GMT in the afternoon for you euros) on Saturday, and will continue to play games online for a full 24 hours until 8am (4pm GMT) on Sunday.

There are a few ways you can keep in touch with what we are doing and make sure we’re actually playing games, not goofing off;

Firstly, we will be streaming as much of the gameplay from the event as possible via two streams. We’ll also record the start, finish and any ’special’ moments for repeat viewing.

You can view the live steam from my computer here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/team-meerkat-live-reishi

You can view the live stream from Alik’s computer here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/team-meerkat-extra-life-event

We will also be making an appearance on MAD-Radio twice. Our first appearance will be at the start of the 24 hours to get things underway. The second appearance will be on Sunday, so you can hear how much we are hurting with only a few hours to go.

You can listen to the shows live at;
iTunes/VLC/Winamp – http://mad-radio.sytes.net:88/listen.pls
Windows Media Player – http://mad-radio.sytes.net:88

You can also follow our progress on twitter @teammeerkat

It’s going to be fun!

Update: The team raised a total of $577 for Extra Life 09
Good going team, I hope to see everyone again next year to raise even more!

The first thing I noticed that needed changing was the way the standard width classes were named; fullWidth and quarterWidth while intuitive just aren’t as intuitive as width100 and width25. Switching to percentages made way more sense.  I’ve listed a full change log below, but I think you’ll agree Core CSS has become that little bit easier to use.

As always; using this code requires you include Eric Meyer’s Reset CSS before Core CSS. This can be included either at the beginning of Core CSS or in a separate file which is called first – I prefer the first method.

Change log 1.0 > 1.2
1. – Removed standardized ‘P’ style (I found there were far less bugs if this was set per project).
2. + Added ‘P.mini’ class (complements P.open nicely).
3. + Added ‘fixed’ class (useful for quick positioning).
4. -/+ Revamped all width definitions to exactly match widths required (fullWidth becomes width100 etc).
5. + Added ‘lightestGrey’ class (useful for dark background small-print).
6. + Added ‘lightestGreyBg’ class (helpful for footer backgrounds etc).
7. + Added ’superLightGreyBg’ class (extension of lightestGreyBg, again for footers, box backgrounds etc).
8. -/+ Revamped ‘input’ styles to be more neutral (should now be a proper option, rather than just a reminder to change the styles).

There are three ways for you to download the code.
1. Copy and paste the code listed below.

2. Download a file containing the full Core CSS.

3. Download a file containing a minified version of Core CSS.

/* core.css Paul West [http://www.yaypaul.com] */
/* Version: 1.2 - 2009-08-22 */

body{background: #fff;}

/* Block level */
div{overflow:hidden;}
.visible{overflow:visible;}
p.closed{margin:0;}
p.open{margin:35px 0 0 0;}
p.mini{margin:10px 0 0 0;}
.float{float:left !important;}
.floatRight{float:right !important;}
.relative{position:relative !important;}
.absolute{position:absolute !important;}
.fixed{position:fixed !important;}
.hidden{display:none}
.block{display:block}
.top{position:fixed; top:0; z-index:10;}

/* Page frameworks */
.frameworkCenter{margin:0 auto;}
.frameworkLeft{left:0; top:0; position:absolute;}
.frameworkRight{right:0; top:0; position:absolute;}

/* Page layout */
.width100{width:100% !important;}
.width75{width:75% !important;}
.width66{width:66% !important;}
.width50{width:50% !important;}
.width25{width:25% !important;}
.width33{width:33% !important;}
.width20{width:20% !important;}

/* Clearing */
.clear{clear:both;}
.clearLeft{clear:left;}
.clearRight{clear:right;}

/* Content control */
.left{text-align:left !important;}
.right{text-align:right !important;}
.center{text-align:center !important;}
.justify{text-align:justify !important;}
.small{font-size:smaller;}
pre{background-color:#fff; border:#333 dashed 1px; padding:10px;}
blockquote{padding:20px; font-style:italic;}

/* Links */
a{text-decoration:underline;}
a:hover{text-decoration:none;}
a:visited{text-decoration:underline;}

/* Colours */
.white{color:#fff !important;}
.black{color:#000 !important;}
.chalk{color:#eee;}
.charcol{color:#333;}
.darkestGrey{color:#484848;}
.darkGrey{color:#666;}
.midGrey{color:#888;}
.lightGrey{color:#ccc;}
.lightestGrey{color:#e5e5e5;}

/* Background colours */
.whiteBg{background-color:#fff !important;}
.blackBg{background-color:#000 !important;}
.chalkBg{background-color:#eee;}
.charcolBg{background-color:#333;}
.darkestGreyBg{background-color:#484848;}
.darkGreyBg{background-color:#666;}
.midGreyBg{background-color:#999;}
.lightGreyBg{background-color:#ccc;}
.lightestGreyBg{background-color:#e5e5e5;}
.superLightGreyBg{background-color:#f5f5f5;}

/* Normalise headings */
h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6{font-weight:normal;}

/* Table formating */
table td{padding:2px;}
td.first{padding:2px 2px 2px 4px;}

/* Input formating */
input, select, textarea{font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-right:10px; padding:4px; background-color:#dbdbdb; border:0;}
input:focus, select:focus, textarea:focus{background-color:#f5f5f5;}
input[type="radio"]{border:0 solid !important;}
input[type="checkbox"]{border:0 solid !important;}
input[type="submit"]{background-color:#888;}
input[type="submit"]:hover{background-color:#4aa056;}